Tragedy At Charlottesville

In the Talmud we are taught: Whoever destroys a soul, it is considered as if s/he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life, it is considered as if s/he saved an entire world. (Mishneh Sanhedrin)

Shabbat-a day of rest and renewal, remembering the beauty and wonder of creation-was shattered-it's world was destroyed this past weekend as white nationalists, neo-Nazis and alt-right members clashed with anti-protestors in Charlottesville, VA. Protest is a cornerstone of American history; it is woven into the fabric of our American identity. In recent decades we can name numerous seminal moments when American voices were raised in protest: Civil Rights, anti-nuclear weapons, Gay Rights, Kent State, Women's Choice, Viet Nam, Occupy Wall Street, Israel and Palestinian rights. Even when we disagree with the reason for a particular protest, our Constitution defends the right to protest. Forty years ago, neo-Nazi leader Frank Collins won in court the constitutional right to march with a band of brown-shirt neo-Nazis through Skokie, IL, home to 8000-9000 Holocaust survivors. The march venue ultimately was moved from Skokie to Chicago.

On Saturday, Heather M. Heyer's world was destroyed and her family and friends are trying to pick up the broken fragments of their hearts and lives. Her death was not the result of out-of-control violence emerging from face-to-face protest/counter-protest. James Alex Field, in an act of alleged terrorismdrove his car into the crowd of counter-protesters to cause injury and death. Like those who masterminded the bombings in Oklahoma City, (if found guilty) James Alex Field's act was one of homegrown, domestic terrorism. White supremacists that applaud his actions and justify his deadly rampage are supporters of terrorism. He and they must be condemned.

A second world was destroyed in recent days as well: America as a protector of all its citizens. Our president's refusal to condemn by name those whose philosophy espouse white supremacist rhetoric-those who strive to cleanse America of racial minorities and Jews-does not make America great again. Statements 'from the white house' are not equal to direct statements from the president. His generic words of condemnation of both sides of the Charlottesville protest have served to vindicate white supremacists both in Charlottesville and across our nation. The permission to hate that was unleashed during the presidential campaign has given way to acting on that hatred and not being held accountable. Democrats and Republicans alike have implored-demanded the President be specific in his condemnations. Would the president heed the calls of Senator Cory Gardner's (R. CO) tweet: "Mr. President, we must call evil by its name. These were white supremacists and this was domestic terrorism." And Mark Rubio tweet, there was "nothing patriotic about Nazis, the KKK or White Supremacists. It's the direct opposite of what America seeks to be."

On Saturday, Heather Heyer's life (and the lives of 2 officers and those wounded) was destroyed, but, her soul will not be destroyed. We must keep her soul alive. We cannot stay silent when words of hatred are transformed to acts of violence. Heather Heyer was a champion for justice. We must carry her torch of love and justice. As she posted on her Facebook Page words echoed after the election, "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention."

We must pay attention! We must be outraged! We must protect the lives and rights of those Americans most vulnerable to demonic hate.

About the author

Rabbi Deborah A. Hirsch joined The Village Temple as our rabbi on July 1, 2016. Though she is a native of Chicago, Rabbi Hirsch has spent her entire rabbinic career in the metro New York area, most recently as senior rabbi at Congregation Shaaray Tefila, where she has served as clergy for the past six years. In 2000, Rabbi Hirsch joined the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), where she was the regional director for the Greater New York Council of Reform Synagogues. In 2003, she became the URJ director of regions and supervised the Union's regional structure throughout North America.
Previously she served as rabbi at East End Temple in Manhattan for 15 years.
She has been active in the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) for many years, serving as finance officer, chair of the Nominating Committee, and chair of the Audit Committee. Rabbi Hirsch has also been a faculty member at Eisner, Crane Lake and Kutz Camps. She was ordained from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1982, received her Doctor of Ministry there in 1997, and was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from the same institution in 2007.